Q: San Francisco wants to charge a toll to drive into the city? This is a joke, right?

Craig Tomasello

A: No joke, but it certainly has gotten a lot of attention.

Q: This would have a negative effect on business clients, tourism and shoppers. What’s next, charge a toll to get off Bart or Caltrain? What about the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridges? Would people get double-tolled just to cross into the city? Once for paying for the bridge, then again, to have access to the city? I can only see this being a traffic nightmare with many, many people getting angry over this.

Craig Tomasello

A: You have that right. San Francisco’s controversial plan is at best five years away from being tested and has numerous hurdles to clear. Here are the highlights for charging a toll to enter or exit the city during peak driving times:

Under one scenario, motorists would be charged $6 to leave the northeast part of the city, bounded by Laguna Street, 18th Street and the bay, during the evening commute. An alternative is to charge $3 to drive in or out of that section of the city during the morning or evening commutes.

Another option is to charge drivers a $3 toll to get into or out of the city from the Peninsula, via Interstate 280, Highway 101, Skyline Boulevard or other major streets.

The tolls could raise $80 million a year for transportation improvements, but could cost motorists around $1,500 a year. The goal is to reduce congestion and entice people to take transit.

Most likely FasTrak devices would be needed, but details would be ironed out over time. The plan would need the approval of San Francisco supervisors, the state Legislature and perhaps voters.

Q: Does this mean that residents who live in San Francisco and work south will also pay a fee? Some comments I’ve read seem to gleefully focus on the cost to people who live in San Mateo or Santa Clara counties and work in the city, but there are many people who live in the city and work on the Peninsula. Do they realize that San Franciscans will be hit hard by this toll unless they spend all their working hours in the city?

Patty Jungers

A: You’re right. People living in San Francisco and working south of there would also be charged a toll.

Q: The article regarding San Francisco seeking up to $6 a day to cross the San Mateo line into and back out of the city is hilarious — for now. What is really disturbing were comments by Assemblyman Jerry Hill that “it sounds like another crazy idea. Where do you stop nickel-and-diming people?” Hey, Jerry! Do the math: $6 a day five days a week times 50 weeks is $1,500 a year if you work in the city. Is that what you call nickel-and-diming? Really? Seriously?

Will Richardson

San Carlos

A: And “…

Q: Many cities around the world require that you purchase a permit to enter downtown areas. The problem for San Francisco is the economic climate we are living in today. The timing is poor. It seems that every level of government has their hand out, and folks don’t have time to recover from the last blow before someone else is delivering the next one.

Will Robles

A: And “…

Q: My lord. Do they want to get rid of all people shopping in San Francisco? I mean they’ve got meters, they’ve got this, they’ve got that, to get money from everybody coming in. I’ll shop on the Peninsula. There are no stores in San Francisco that are better than those on the Peninsula. This is a ridiculous idea.

Mary A.

Saratoga

A: Is there anyone out there who likes the idea?

Q: This is a very bad idea, and those people that thought of it should be put in jail for the rest of their lives. They are robbing the working folks, folks who go to school and folks that are just trying to make a living.

Ray Berrios

San Francisco

A: The plan will be further discussed next month. If it gains steam, the idea is to test the idea for up to a year starting in 2015.

Gary Richards has covered traffic and transportation in the Bay Area as Mr. Roadshow since 1992. Prior to that he was an assistant sports editor at the paper from 1984-1987. He started his journalism career as a sports editor in Iowa in 1975.

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